E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial mistake picture

Visible crew/equipment: When one of the government cars drives alongside the boys on their bikes as they're nearing the bottom of the hill, in the closeup of the car the reflection of a crew member wearing a cap can be seen on the back passenger window, just as the driver speaks into his radio mic and says, "We got 'em," at the start of the shot.

Super Grover

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial mistake picture

Visible crew/equipment: When the two government agents pull over at the bottom of the hill one of the agents remains in the vehicle, and in the shot from inside the car just as Greg rides his bike over it, the crew member's (presumably cameraman) hand can be seen behind the agent's head in the rearview mirror's reflection. (It can't be the driver's hand since it gets blocked from view by the driver's head, within the reflection).

Super Grover

Visible crew/equipment: Near the start, while the agents are chasing ET, after the last closeup of the jangling keys it cuts to a shot of ET moving fast through the forest and the equipment used to help him move can be seen. This is only visible in the original 1982 unaltered version (such as on Netflix), because ET has been digitally altered in the 2002 version. Interesting to point out that the 2002 2-disc DVD set, which includes the 1982 version, has also been digitally altered in this shot.

Super Grover

Visible crew/equipment: When Michael and Elliott bring ghost ET downstairs Mary walks over to the trio with the Polaroid camera, and when she kneels down the actor's tape mark can be seen on the carpet, presumably where Mary had stood when she stopped to scream.

Super Grover

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial mistake picture

Visible crew/equipment: After Mary and all the boys look in the shed and find tracks, when they head back to the house Tyler stops at the pizza box, and note the three distinct marks on the ground to inconspicuously signify where actors should stand while discussing the pizza. Michael stands at his curved mark, Elliott stands at his L-shape mark, and Mary's mark is in the shape of a T-mark.

Super Grover

Visible crew/equipment: When Elliot is luring ET with Reeces Pieces and goes into his room and through his drawers to find more candy, you can see the shadow of the crew moving on the wall next to Elliot.

Visible crew/equipment: When the two government agents are about to cut off Elliott and his friends at the bottom of the hill, a film crew's vehicle is reflected on their car's passenger side. (01:40:35)

ryguy_1983

Visible crew/equipment: When drunken ET is about to grab the comic book, watch the microwave door. Right before the angle cuts, someone's moving shadow is reflected.

Sacha

Continuity mistake: When the boys are riding their bikes trying to escape with ET, all the bikes have single brake levers on the right side of their handlebars, but after Elliott shouts that they should follow him to the forest, there's a shot from the POV of one of the bike riders (we know it's not Greg or Elliott) and he has two brake levers on his handlebar.

Super Grover

More mistakes in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Elliot: Okay, he's a man from outer space, and we're taking him to his spaceship.
Greg: Well, can't he just beam up?
Elliot: This is reality, Greg.

Super Grover

More quotes from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
More trivia for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Question: Why, at the beginning of the movie, is there a ton of smoke hovering over the table where the young boys are playing the game? I know they are not smoking cigarettes. The mother is obviously not smoking. Where is the all the smoke coming from? It isn't incense either.

William Bergquist

Chosen answer: They actually are smoking and there are cigarettes on the table.

Mike K

Answer: It didn't show anyone smoking but there is a lit and burning cigarette on the table.

Answer: They're definitely not smoking but there is a lot of smoke. You can see an actual flame at one point so I'm guessing incense.

Answer: There also is a can of insecticide AND air freshener. Years ago they were used to mask the smell of smoke. The mother was too busy and addled to notice them smoking.

More questions & answers from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

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